Apple previews new accessibility features just before WWDC23

Apple is celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day by announcing new accessibility features coming to its platforms later this year.

Assistive Access

Assistive Access is designed to help people with cognitive disabilities by simplifying app's interface to its essential features and removing cognitive load. This feature targets iPhone and iPad specifically.

It is not fully clear, if applications will be able to detect presence of Assistive Access mode and adjust their interface, however, at this point it seems to be reasonable to have similar option for complicated apps.

Live Speech and Personal Voice

Live Speech provides an option for people to type the text to have it spoken out loud during phone calls or live conversations. Frequently used phrases could be saved for quick access.

Users who are at risk of loosing their ability to speak could create Personalized Voice by reading phrases for 15 minutes. This voice could be used to read phrases via Live Speech.

Detection Mode in Magnifier

Magnifier now supports pointing to objects with finger to announce the object. Demo shows button text announcement on microwave oven. This feature significantly improves magnifier app for visually impaired people.

Several other features are added across Apple platforms that improve overall accessibility.

Apple Newsroom: Apple previews Live Speech, Personal Voice, and more new accessibility features

Apple announces WWDC23!

Apple today announced WWDC23 to be online event to take place June 5 – 9. Additional in-person all-day event will be held on June 5 at Apple Park.

Swift Student Challenge is also announced for this WWDC. Students are welcome to demonstrate their skills, prizes and exclusive WWDC23 outwear will be provided to winners.

Apple Developer: WWDC23

Apple Newsroom: Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference returns June 5, 2023

Apple special event ‘Far out.’ to be hosted in-person on September 7

It was a long time since Apple hosted in-person special events for announcements. This time Apple will announce next generation iPhones, Apple Watches and probably other devices at Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino.

Presentation will take place September 7, 2022 at 10:00am PDT.

Apple Event: Far Out.

Reference: Apple Announces 'Far Out' September 7 Event Set to Feature iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8 and More